Murder on Mokulua Drive

Natalie Seachrist has had a vision in the night of a Jewish child fleeing Denmark to Sweden with her family during WWII. But Natalie has no idea who this child could be or why she’s had this particular vision. Though she is sure the reason for the vision will become clear at some point. Instead of dwelling on it, she turns her attention to moving house. With the death of her aunt Carrie, she has inherited White Sand Cottage, in Lanikai near Kailua on the windward side of Oahu in Hawaii, and she has to clear out her condo in Waikiki. Her boyfriend, Keoni, is there to help not just with the move but with the renovations at the cottage as well.

As they settle into the cottage, they get to know their neighbors and all seems picturesque and idyllic until one of the neighbors, Miriam Didion, is murdered. Natalie and Keoni, a retired police officer, are determined to help find the murderer before he or she can strike again.

Initially, it was the gorgeous cover that drew me to this book. I loved the sunset view and the fact that the story was set in Hawaii made it all the more interesting. I liked the character of Natalie and I felt that as a narrator she was able to create quite an intimate setting. It felt like she was talking to me personally from the comfort of the cottage. I don’t often get this warm and cozy atmosphere in mystery stories, so I appreciated this aspect of the book.

Overall, I was impressed by the character development in the book. I felt that I got to know everyone rather well. The use of Hawaiian words and explanations was also a very nice touch, making me feel that I was part of the local culture. It also made the setting seem more realistic. I enjoyed the ending and was intrigued to find out a little more about Miriam and how the story tied back to the beginning of the book. I also liked that just because Miriam and “her ladies” were retired and older, it didn’t mean they weren’t lively and active. It’s nice to read about characters of all ages, and this book had the young and the old. The story had many layers as well as some twists and turns, which kept me glued to the pages, particularly the story of Samantha and Luke.

I’m excited to discover a new mystery writer, and I’m hoping there will be more cases for Natalie, Keoni, and Miss Una to solve in the not-too-distant future.